Well, here it is! The end of the semester and you all know what that means. Finals, a million page essays, presentations, anxiety, stress, and little to no sleep. Difficult? Very! I wish I could just take a nap and watch a movie.

Last Tuesday I spent countless hours sitting in my school’s library working on my final paper for my Growing Up Gendered class, but procrastination is something that I know all too well. Scrolling through Facebook, SnapChatting, texting, and the occasional, “Well I guess I should probably get a snack” breaks ended up taking most of my time. I was texting a friend saying how I was so overwhelmed and couldn’t handle the amount of assignments and stress that the upcoming week had required from me and I joked, “I wish I could just drop out.” His response left me thinking…

College is something that holds an immeasurable amount of value, and I’m fortunate enough to experience it. Education is a gift. To enlighten ourselves in an area of life that we are passionate about is something that most of us take for granted. The Liberal Arts College experience has provided me with an endless amount of important character qualities that allow me to strive towards my highest potential. Educating myself on issues such as equality and women and gender struggles has molded me into a person who is determined to make a difference in the lives of others, for the better. The open mindedness and support I am surrounded by in this college environment has become a feeling of a second home. It’s rare to be involved in an institution that not only welcomes but embraces our differences, cares to educate and not discriminate.

An important lesson that I've learned this semester is that I don’t “have” to do anything. I don’t have to go to college, I don’t have to do that 8 page research paper, I don’t have to study and no, I don’t have to pay a significant amount of money to attend……..but I get to, and I’m fortunate enough to, and although it may be stressful I should embrace it because not everyone has this opportunity. College has introduced me to many incredible people and I believe that it has helped me discover more of who I am and what I’m supposed to be.

With that being said, college will never define your intelligence, and your grades are not a reflection of your capabilities or who you are as a person. Some of the brightest, most-caring and thoughtful people I'm blessed to have in my life have learned the most outside of the classroom! Continue to explore, create, and encourage...... at the end of the day materialistic things mean absolutely nothing but love and support means the most!